Novel method for the preparation of CF3 NF2

ABSTRACT

A novel method is provided for the preparation of difluoramino  trifluoromane by the direct fluorination of azidotrifluoromethane in the temperature range of 70° C. to 80° C. A potassium fluoride catalyst also may enhance the rate of reaction and increase the yield.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The known methods of synthesizing difluoramino trifluoromethane suffer from several serious deficiencies. Difluoroaminotrifluoromethane, CF₃ NF₂, has been synthesized by numerous processes including the fluorination of amines, metal cyanides, nitriles and metal thiocyanates. Fluorinating agents that have been used include NF₃, N₂ F₄, transition metal fluorides as well as fluorine. The principal drawbacks of all these processes is the formation of CF₃ NF₂ in low yields accompanied by difficulty separable coproducts. For example many of the processes produce C₂ F₆, that has a boiling point that is essentially the same as CF₃ NF₂. It is therefore very difficult to effect their separation. In addition, nearly all of these processes suffer from poor reproducibility.

Other prior art processes, as disclosed by J. K. Ruff in Jour. of Organic Chemistry 32, p. 1675 (1967) require chromatographic purification of the product. Other prior art processes are disclosed in J. K. Ruff, Chem. Rev. Vol. 67 pg. 665 (1967), and in J. P. Freeman in Advances in Fluorine Chem. Vol. 6, pg. 287 (1970). These processes show low yields of difluoramino trifluoromethane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a method for the direct fluorination of azidotrifluoromethane with gaseous fluorine at a temperature in the general range of 30° C. to 80° C. to produce difluoroamino trifluorometane A potassium fluoride catalyst may be used. The yield may exceed 70%, when the temperature is maintained in the range of 70° C. to 80° C. and a suitable catalyst is employed.

Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide a novel process for the preparation of difluoramino trifluoromethane.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It has been discovered that the reaction of azidotrifluoromethane with fluorine is a reproducible, high yield process for the synthesis of difluoroamino trifluoromethane.

The equation is CF₃ N₃ +F₂ →CF₃ NF₂ +N₂ Minimal side reactions are encountered.

The fluorine to be used in the example was scrubbed with NaF immediately before use.

The CF₃ N₃ was produced according to the following equations

    CF.sub.3 NO+H.sub.2 NNH.sub.2 →CF.sub.3 N=NNH.sub.2 +H.sub.2 O

    CF.sub.3 N=NNH.sub.2 +Cl.sub.2 →CF.sub.3 N.sub.3 +2 HCL.

The details of the preparation of the starting material is disclosed in an article entitled "Properties of Azidotrifluormethane" Inorgan Chem 1981, 20 pg. 2566-2570--Karl O. Christe and Carl J. Schack.

This publication is incorporated herein by reference.

Synthesis of CF₃ NF₂

A 30 ml stainless-steel Hoke cylinder was loaded with CF₃ N₃ (1.68 mmol) and F₂ (6.70 mmol) at -196° C. The cooling bath was removed and as soon as the cylinder was free of frost, it was placed in an oven preheated to 70° C. After 24 hours the reactor was cooled to -196° C. and all volatile material, consisting mainly of the excess F₂ and by-product N₂, was pumped away. The condensable material (1.69 mmol) was shown by infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatographic analysis at 65° C. to be 51% unreacted CF₃ N₃ and 49% CF₃ NF₂ with a trace of CF₄. When fluorinated for an additional 24 hour period at 70° C., the yield of CF₃ NF₂ was 84% and about 15% CF₃ N₃ was still recovered. Further fluorination consumed the azide and produced CF₃ NF.sub. 2 (92%), CF₄ (6%) and C₂ F₆ (1-2%). A similar 70° C. fluorination reaction in which the reactor contained 18 mmol of anhydrous KF powder, gave a 68% yield of CF₃ NF₂ after 1 day. After 2 days this yield had increased to 73% and was accompanied by a 6.4% yield of the degradation product CF₄.

Catalyst

The rate of reaction and overall yield is significantly increased by the use of a potassium fluoride catalyst. Another reaction that is run at temperatures higher than 80° C. or in the presence of CsF leads to further fluorination according to this equation

    CF.sub.3 N.sub.3 +F.sub.2 →N.sub.2 +CF.sub.3 NF.sub.2 ##STR1## The maximum yield of CF.sub.3 NF.sub.2 observed in both catalyzed and uncatalyzed reactions for 1 day was about 70%. After slightly longer reaction times yields are in the 90-95% range. In addition to the by-products CF.sub.4 and NF.sub.3 which are easily separated, there was also some C.sub.2 F.sub.6 formed (˜1%) when all the CF.sub.3 N.sub.3 had reacted. Although not a very fast reaction, this synthesis has the advantages of high yield, easy product purification, and reproducibility.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that any other modifications, substitutions, combinations and sub-combinations or ingredients, and procedures may be used within the scope and spirit of the invention, in addition to those specifically recited above. It is intended by the claims which follow to cover these and all other obvious alternatives and variations as broadly as the state of the art properly permits. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the production of difluoramino trifluoromethane comprisingreacting azidotrifluoromethane with fluorine in equal molar quantities to produce difluoroamino trifluoromethane according to the equation

    CF.sub.3 N.sub.3 +F.sub.2 →CF.sub.3 NF.sub.2 +N.sub.2.


2. The process of claim 1 where the temperature of the reaction is in the range of 70° C. to 80° C.
 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of a catalyst.
 4. The process of claim 3 wherein the catalyst is potassium fluoride. 